The Mississippi Business Journal back issues from September 2007:
Furniture Market mixed bag
Sep 03, 2007; ... Bob Loftis and his son-in-law Reggie Davis arrived in Tupelo August 21. The owner of Muskogee, Okla.-based Bob Loftis Furniture wanted to be in town for the "unofficial" opening of the Tupelo Furniture Market the next morning. They were, and it still took until Saturday afternoon, the ...
Itawamba County lands first supplier
Sep 03, 2007; ... FULTON - The first supplier for Toyota Mississippi officially announced its new Northeast Mississippi location August 28. Toyota Boshoku America (TBA) will build a 341,000-square-foot plant on 40 acres south of U.S. 78 in western Itawamba County. Facing an audience of several hundred at ...
Lackey named exclusive Realtor for Gallagher's Pass
Sep 03, 2007; ... Crye-Leike agent Shari Lackey has been named exclusive Realtor for the new Ridgeland residential development, Gallagher's Pass. The property is named for one of the five local families that owned and resided on the land. Each family's contribution to the founding and growth of Ridgeland ...
Stennis blasts into the future of exploration
Sep 03, 2007; ... For many years, it has been said that you won't be able to get to the moon without going through Hancock County. That is because of the vital role played testing rocket engines at Stennis Space Center. Now it could be said you won't be able to get to the moon or Mars without going ...
Group's goal? Adding to Highway 51's retail vitality
Sep 03, 2007; ... It's not just the road improvements that are changing the look of U.S. 51 in Ridgeland. A newly-formed company called Old Fifty One, LLC, is creating a more appealing look for the stretch of road, as well as adding to a thriving retail area. Mark Doiron, Tommy Harkins, Jody Morgan and ...
Businesses see benefits from growing immigrant workforce
Sep 03, 2007; ... Editor's Note: When this story was first published, it contained several errors made by the writer and in the editing process. It is reprinted here with corrections. The MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL regrets this situation and apologizes for any inconvenience or confusion it may have ...
Realtor overcomes adversity to win national award
Sep 03, 2007; ... Real estate blood runs through the veins of Herbert Dubuisson Jr. What else could he do? As the only child of Herbert Sr. and the late Patsy Dubuisson, both Realtors in Bay St. Louis, he grew up in the business. For many years, the Dubuissons owned ERA Bay Shore Realty before merging with ...
Mississippi heat ongoing challenge for building managers
Sep 03, 2007; ... The calendar may say September, but there are still weeks of hot weather left in Mississippi. Battling the intense hot weather is one of many things property managers and mechanical services companies do to keep tenants comfortable. Sotne have worked overtime in this year's brutal ...
Television stations see more advertising for local races
Sep 03, 2007; ... It's an election year and that means more political advertising revenue for television stations. Even without a hotly contested governor's race, stations from Tupelo to the Coast report a good year for sales. The difference is more political advertising in local races, a phenomena that hasn't ...
Realtors across country funding Coast rental property repairs
Sep 03, 2007; ... Of course housing and Realtors go together, so it's fitting this group of professionals joined forces to provide affordable housing along the hurricane-stricken Mississippi Gulf Coast. In the hours before Katrina hit the area, the Mississippi Association of Realtors (MAR) and the National ...
Management firms see trends emerge market by market
Sep 03, 2007; ... Property management firms are seeing new emerging trends in real estate around the state. In Tupelo, it's an increased willingness by tenants to sign triple net leases. Jackson is experiencing an increase of multi-use developments. Commercial property selling prices are approaching $1 million ...
Builders busy despite mortgage industry woes
Sep 03, 2007; ... The housing market and the mortgage industry have been in national headlines a lot lately, and none of the news is good. Primarily due to the proliferation of subprime loans and adjustable mortgages, foreclosures are soaring, mortgage companies are filing bankruptcy and a general gloom prevails ...
Builders: Enforce certification
Sep 03, 2007; ... In July 2001, a law was enacted that required home inspectors to be licensed in order to work in the state. To inspect existing homes, applicants are required to complete 60 classroom hours at an accredited school, pass the home inspector national exam, pass the code of ethics and standards ...
Banking Department adopts new licensing guidelines
Sep 03, 2007; ... The recent crash and burn of the subprime and non-traditional mortgage loan industry continues to have a ripple effect throughout the state and U.S. economy. And on a personal level, it has left many homeowners holding foreclosure notices and broken dreams. In an effort to right the ...
Itawamba County lands first supplier: Toyota Boshoku America building 341,000-square-foot plant on 40 acres.
Sep 03, 2007; ... FULTON -- The first supplier for Toyota Mississippi officially announced its new Northeast Mississippi location August 28. Toyota Boshoku America (TBA) will build a 341,000-square-foot plant on 40 acres south of U.S. 78 in western Itawamba County. Facing an audience of several ...
Stennis blasts into the future of exploration.
Sep 03, 2007; ... For many years, it has been said that you won't be able to get to the moon without going through Hancock County. That is because of the vital role played testing rocket engines at Stennis Space Center. Now it could be said you won't be able to get to the moon or Mars without ...
Furniture market mixed bag.
Sep 03, 2007; ... Bob Loftis and his son-in-law Reggie Davis arrived in Tupelo August 21. The owner of Muskogee, Okla.-based Bob Loftis Furniture wanted to be in town for the "unofficial" opening of the Tupelo Furniture Market the next morning. They were, and it still took until Saturday ...
New Perspectives Inc.(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007 ... Jeremy K. Stringer has joined New Perspectives Inc. in Ridgeland as assistant portfolio manager. In this role, he will be responsible for research, trading and business development ....
State Bank & Trust Company.(People to Watch)
Sep 03, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Laura Ruth Brown has been named branch manager of State Bank & Trust Company's Terry Road location in Jackson. She has three years of banking experience. After graduating from Chamberlain-Hunt Academy, Brown received a ...
Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis.(M. Jason Clayton joins Watkins Ludlam Winter and Stennis)(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007 ... M. Jason Clayton has joined Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis as an associate in the firm's litigation practice group. A University of Southern Mississippi alum, he is a ...
Hightower Advertising Agency Inc.(People to Watch)
Sep 03, 2007 ... Rachael Roberts of Madison has joined the Hightower Advertising Agency as a media coordinator for the inside sales department. She was previously associated with the Mississippi Business Journal and Maris, West & Baker. A Jackson native, Roberts earned a degree in business communications ...
Workplace Essentials.(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007 ... Sharon Green has been named senior sales executive for Workplace Essentials in Jackson. She holds a bachelor's degree in interior design from Mississippi State University and has more than 20 years of experience in business space and design ....
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC.(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007 ... Attorneys Brett McCall and Nathan Smith have joined Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, in the Jackson office. McCall, who joins the firm as associate, will concentrate his practice in commercial real estate and lending. Before joining Baker Donelson, he was associate ...
The Ramey Agency.(Anne-Lauren Fratesi has joined Ramey Agency Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007 ... Anne-Lauren Fratesi has joined The Ramey Agency as an associate account executive in the Ridgeland office. She comes to the firm from Nancy Price Interior Design Inc., where she served as client relations specialist. A native of Leland, Fratesi received a bachelor's degree in communication ...
Three join firm.(People to Watch)
Sep 03, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Andrew Luter has joined Dale and Associates Architects P.A. as a landscape designer. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in landscape architecture this year. Kemper Smith has joined the firm as ...
New signs on the coast.(Perspective)(Cartoon)
Sep 03, 2007 ... Hard ROCK CASINO & HOTEL Luxury CONDOS Casino Hard TIME FINDING AN AFFORDABLE ...
Promoter pushing pardon for Johnny Cash.(Viewpoint essay)
Sep 03, 2007; ... Growing up in Starkville, I knew the story about Johnny Cash and his incarceration in the local jail, but I can't recall when I first heard his song about the experience, "Starkville City Jail." I like his music, but I'd never call myself a huge Johnny Cash fan, and I haven't ...
Have legislative elections ever been more important?
Sep 03, 2007; ... Perhaps never in any of our lifetimes have the races for legislative seats been as important as they are this year. This new era of two-party politics is causing traditionally independent minded Mississippians to focus on party as never before. In the old days, anyone who wanted ...
Unemployment rises.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... ACROSS MISSISSIPPI -- The state's unemployment rate rose to 7.2% in July, mainly due to seasonal layoffs of noncontract school employees, according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES). The number of employed Mississippians fell by 1,200, while the number ...
Belly keeping Rainbow.(Bally Technologies Inc's. management of rainbow casino)(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007; ... VICKSBURG -- Bally Technologies Inc. will continue to own and operate Rainbow Casino in Vicksburg. The company previously announced in October 2006 that it had retained an outside firm to assist in the exploration of the sale of Rainbow Casino. "We are pleased here at the ...
GCWDI ahead of schedule.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST -- Business Roundtable reports its Gulf Coast Workforce Development Initiative (GCWDI) is ahead of schedule in its effort to recruit and train up to 20,000 new construction workers in the Gulf Coast region by the end of 2009. The program provides critically needed ...
State joins SEUS-Japan.(measures for increasing investments in the state)(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007; ... JACKSON -- In an effort to foster increased Japanese investment in the state, the State of Mississippi has joined the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association. The Japan-U.S. Southeast Association, better known as SEUS-Japan, is a networking organization designed to promote Japanese ...
Kohler sees milestone.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... HATTIESBURG -- Kohler Co. recently celebrated a milestone as the one-millionth Kohler Courage single-cylinder engine rolled off the assembly line in Hattiesburg. The success of the Courage engine line reflects the growth of Kohler's presence in the small-engine consumer market. ...
CCA breaks ground.(Corrections Corporation of America's new facility)(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007; ... ADAMS COUNTY -- Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) held a groundbreaking ceremony August 24 to mark the company's new construction of a company-owned and -operated correctional center in this Southwest Mississippi county. The Adams County Correctional Center, CCA's fourth ...
Eyevox forms partnership.(Eyevox , Sirius Thinking, Ltd and Connecticut Public Broadcasting forming partnership for production of children series)(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007; ... RIDGELAND -- The video production company Eyevox has partnered with Sirius Thinking, Ltd., in New York and Connecticut Public Broadcasting to produce the new PBS children's series "Lomax, The Hound of Music." Production of 13 half-hour episodes designed to teach appreciation of ...
Nissan makes donation.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... CANTON -- For the 14th consecutive year, employees at Nissan North America have contributed more than $1 million to support the United Way. Nissan employees who work in the company's plants in Tennessee and Mississippi and in its Nashville headquarters have donated a total of $1.3 million ...
Lackey named exclusive Realtor for Gallagher's Pass.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... Crye-Leike agent Shaft Lackey has been named exclusive Realtor for the new Ridgeland residential development, Gallagher's Pass. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The property is named for one of the five local families that owned and resided on the land. Each family's ...
XFONE buying NTS.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... JACKSON -- XFONE Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire NTS Communications Inc., a provider of integrated voice, data and video solutions headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, for $42 million (excluding acquisition-related costs). The acquisition is expected to ...
MSU climbs ranking.(Mississippi State University)(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007; ... STARKVILLE -- Mississippi State University (MSU) continues among the top 100 universities in a national magazine ranking based on "what colleges are doing for the country." MSU is 82nd among some 240 major public and private institutions in the Washington Monthly's third-annual ...
Disaster loans available.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... ACROSS MISSISSIPPI -- Federal disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to small businesses located in the State of Mississippi as a result of damages and losses to crops caused by unseasonably low, freezing temperatures that occurred April 6-8, ...
Businesses see benefits from growing immigrant workforce.(Reprint)
Sep 03, 2007; ... The country's immigration issues and changing demographics are also at play in Mississippi where there is no official count of immigrants but many communities are seeing an influx of Mexican immigrants. The U.S. Census Bureau says the nation's minority population has reached 100.7 million, ...
Hospitals' impact studied.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... ACROSS MISSISSIPPI -- Mississippi's hospitals annually contribute more than $9 billion to the state's economy. This and other findings are from "Beyond Health Care: Mississippi Hospitals as Vital Economic Engines," a report researched by DataGen, a New York-based healthcare information ...
Peoples repurchasing shares.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... BILOXI -- The board of directors of Peoples Financial Corporation, parent of The Peoples Bank, has authorized the repurchase of 2.5%, or approximately 136,000, of the outstanding shares of the company. Shares may be purchased on the open market or through private transactions, ...
MC renovating business building.(building renovation of Mississippi College's (MC's) School of Business )(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007; ... CLINTON -- Mississippi College's (MC's) School of Business is undergoing more than $1.1 million in renovations at Self Hall, and MC leaders have scheduled two events this fall to showcase the improvements. Steps to modernize eight classrooms, the foyer and all corridors ...
New restaurant opening.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... OXFORD -- On September 5, the Waltz on the Square will hold the grand opening of Oxford's newest upscale restaurant and bar. The Waltz on the Square is definitely a family-and-friend affair. The brainchild of Memphis investor Jim Crenshaw, the culinary talent behind the eatery ...
Airport receives grant.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... TUNICA -- Federal funding totaling more than $6.1 million has been approved for use at Tunica Municipal Airport. Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), who serves as ranking member of the Senate's Aviation Subcommittee, says the grant will be administered through the U.S. Department of ...
External funding at $100M.(University of Southern Mississippi's finance for research fundings)(Brief article)
Sep 03, 2007; ... HATTIESBURG -- The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will begin this academic year with a two-year average of $100 million in external research funding for projects that have widespread applications from homeland security to math and science education. "This is a vastly ...
NVision gives demo.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... HANCOCK COUNTY -- NVision Solutions Inc., The Boeing Company and NAVTEQ recently demonstrated a prototype emergency management "common operating picture" at the 2007 Pacific Northwest Asymmetric Warfare Initiative. The federally-funded Center for Asymmetric Warfare (CAW) ...
Television stations see more advertising for local races.
Sep 03, 2007; ... It's an election year and that means more political advertising revenue for television stations. Even without a hotly contested governor's race, stations from Tupelo to the Coast report a good year for sales. The difference is more political advertising in local races, a phenomena that ...
Tourism Division recognized.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... JACKSON -- The Tourism Division of the Mississippi Development Authority was recently recognized as having the best state tourism office international marketing project. The Mercury Award was presented during the closing ceremony of the Travel Industry Association's Educational Seminar for ...
Fitch rates bonds.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... NEW YORK -- Fitch Ratings has assigned an "AA" rating to the State of Mississippi's $50-million variable rate general obligation (GO) capital improvements bonds, series 2007 (auction rate securities), expected to be offered via negotiation with Morgan Stanley August 30 at press time. ...
Baptist lab accredited.(Strictly Business)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Sep 03, 2007; ... JACKSON -- The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Medical Laboratories has granted accreditation to Baptist Health Systems' Cardiovascular Diagnostics Nuclear Cardiology Laboratory. According to the hospital, the laboratory is one of the first nuclear ...
TCI launches program.(Strictly Business)
Sep 03, 2007; ... JACKSON -- The Catfish Institute (TCI) is distributing materials to restaurants so operators can let their customers know they serve only U.S. farm-raised catfish. Roger Barlow, TCI president, says, "We know that the TCI restaurant materials will erase any doubts in catfish ...
Negative political campaigns: ultimate love-hate relationships?
Sep 03, 2007; ... During the recent statewide primary elections, negative political ads and tactics were well represented. The Charlie Ross/Phil Bryant and Gary Anderson/George Dale campaigns, in particular, were more than just negative -they were often vicious and personal. Experts in political ...
Group's goal? Adding to Highway 51's retail vitality.(Focus: Real Estate Quarterly)
Sep 03, 2007; ... It's not just the road improvements that are changing the look of U.S. 51 in Ridgeland. A newly-formed company called Old Fifty One, LLC, is creating a more appealing look for the stretch of road, as well as adding to a thriving retail area. Mark Doiron, Tommy Harkins, Jody ...
Mississippi heat ongoing challenge for building managers.(influence of hot weather conditions on services of real estate management firms)
Sep 03, 2007; ... The calendar may say September, but there are still weeks of hot weather left in Mississippi. Battling the intense hot weather is one of many things property managers and mechanical services companies do to keep tenants comfortable. Some have worked overtime in this year's brutal heat. ...
New South Economic Development course upcoming.(Focus: Real Estate Quarterly)
Sep 03, 2007 ... The New South Economic Development course, "Innovating Tomorrow Today," will be held September 23-28 at the Imperial Palace in Biloxi. The program is offered by the Trent Lott Center for Excellence in Economic Development and ...
Builders: enforce certification.(law for certification of home inspectors)
Sep 03, 2007; ... In July 2001, a law was enacted that required home inspectors to be licensed in order to work in the state. To inspect existing homes, applicants are required to complete 60 classroom hours at an accredited school, pass the home inspector national exam, pass the code of ethics and ...
Property management firms.(Focus: Real Estate Quarterly)
Sep 03, 2007 ... <Pre> Property Management Firms Company Name/ Year Founded Web site Phone/Fax AddressE-mail Parkway Realty www.pky.com (601) 948-4091/949-4077 Services, LLC/1983 jingram@pky.com 188 E. Capitol St., Ste. 1000, ...
Management firms see trends emerge market by market.(Focus: Real Estate Quarterly)
Sep 03, 2007; ... Property management firms are seeing new emerging trends in real estate around the state. In Tupelo, it's an increased willingness by tenants to sign triple net leases. Jackson is experiencing an increase of multi-use developments. Commercial property selling prices are approaching $1 ...
Realtor overcomes adversity to win national award.(Focus: Real Estate Quarterly)
Sep 03, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Real estate blood runs through the veins of Herbert Dubuisson Jr. What else could he do? As the only child of Herbert Sr. and the late Patsy Dubuisson, both Realtors in Bay St. Louis, he grew up in the business. For many years, the Dubuissons owned ERA Bay ...
Builders busy despite mortgage industry woes.
Sep 03, 2007; ... The housing market and the mortgage industry have been in national headlines a lot lately, and none of the news is good. Primarily due to the proliferation of subprime loans and adjustable mortgages, foreclosures are soaring, mortgage companies are filing bankruptcy and a general gloom ...
Banking Department adopts new licensing guidelines: subprime, non-traditional lending issues prompt changes.(Focus: Real Estate Quarterly)
Sep 03, 2007; ... The recent crash and burn of the subprime and non-traditional mortgage loan industry continues to have a ripple effect throughout the state and U.S. economy. And on a personal level, it has left many homeowners holding foreclosure notices and broken dreams. In an effort to right ...
Workforce rental housing development program OK'd.(Focus: Real Estate Quarterly)
Sep 03, 2007 ... The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved a new program to spur development of workforce rental housing along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Details of the $260-million Small Rental Assistance Program are on the Mississippi Development Authority's (MDA's) ...
At issue: subprime mortgage failure or Wall Street meltdown?(Focus: Real Estate Quaterly)
Sep 03, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With the national media frenzy accompanying the concerns about weakness in the subprime mortgage market, it has been difficult to discern what is actually happening. In this article, I attempt to point out a few facts that may help put things into ...